Genus Acheta

1 species in North America (nearctica.com)

body 16-21 mm

head light brown with three black transverse bands: one across the back of the head, another between the eyes, and a third horseshoe-shaped band between the antennae; pronotum light brown with dark brown or blackish markings on side and top; wings brown and black, usually extending beyond abdomen and tapering to a long point; pale dorsolateral line runs along each wing; legs brown, hind tibiae with two rows of several spines; ovipositor straight, thin, shorter than length of abdomen

all house crickets have long hind wings when they become adult, but they sometimes shed them later

juveniles resemble adults but are smaller and wingless

found in many places throughout the world, but in North America wild populations are restricted to eastern United States (except peninsular Florida), southern Ontario and Quebec, and southern California

in and around houses, other buildings, and in garbage dumps

thoughout the year indoors

soft plant matter, other insects, and carrion

eggs are laid on a damp substrate such as sand or moss; overwinters as an adult in buildings or other sheltered areas

male house crickets make a calling song by rubbing a scraper on the inner edge of the left wing against the teeth of a file beneath the right wing; the calling song is a series of short chirps

pinned adult images of male and female, plus distribution map, description, biology, etc. (Featured Creatures, U. of Florida)